MUST WATCH

JUST WATCHED

Remembering Maria de Villota

MUST WATCH

Yet the Briton has the chance to help his team finish second in the constructors' world championship, even if Mercedes still have plenty to do in both Austin and Interlagos with Ferrari and Lotus hot on their heels.

The 334-point tally of Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg is just 11 more than Ferrari, while Lotus are also a threat with 297 points.

Wherever Mercedes do finish, Hamilton will consider it a major improvement on last year when the team finished fifth in the constructors' standings, trailing fourth-placed Lotus by a wide margin.

"I really want to help this team finish second in the constructors' championship," explained a driver who left McLaren to sign a three-year deal with Mercedes in September 2012.

"We've had some tough races this season but we are growing race by race. We have achieved something just incredible this year, to go from where the team wasn't really so successful last year to becoming the ones that are competing with Ferrari and Red Bull.

"What motivates me is the chance to be world champion again in future -- and I know I have to put the work in now for what will hopefully be future success."

So will the Mercedes mechanics who face an anxious start to the season, as all the teams will, given the potential for early reliability problems because of the new rules.